German-Born Actress Elke Sommer Passes Away at Age 85 in Los Angeles

Remembering Elke Sommer

Elake Sommer, the well-known German-born actress recognised for her work in major Hollywood films throughout the 1960s and 1970s, has died at the age of 85. Her stepson, Sebastian Walther, confirmed that she passed away on Wednesday at her home located in Los Angeles.

The passing of elke sommer occurred only three months following the death of her husband, Wolf Walther, who had passed away from cancer. According to her stepson, she can finally be reunited with her beloved husband.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born in Berlin on November 5, 1940, during Nazi occupation, her family fled the capital city during World War II to relocate to a small town called Niederndorf. Later, in 1957, she traveled to London to work as an au pair for the family of actress Vicki Michelle. While taking a holiday in Italy, she caught the attention of director Vittorio De Sica, which quickly launched her acting career.

Stardom in Hollywood Classics

By the early 1960s, she moved to Hollywood and established herself as a popular pin-up model and movie star. Her prominent film credits include The Prize alongside Paul Newman, the Pink Panther sequel A Shot in the Dark with Peter Sellers, and The Wrecking Crew alongside Dean Martin and Sharon Tate. Additional notable screen appearances feature Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!, The Art of Love, The Oscar, and And Then There Were None.

In 1964, her work earned her a Golden Globe award for most promising newcomer actress for her performance in The Prize. As her career progressed into the 1970s, she appeared in features such as Zeppelin, Baron Blood, Lisa and the Devil, and the British comedy Carry On Behind.

Sources: Variety, IMDb, Deadline.